Assighstob op one-fotjbth



(Nd Model.)

P. M. WATERS. MOWING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 28, 1885.

INVENTOR.

' UNITED -STATES P TENT O FICE.

7 connection.

FRANK llL 'WATERS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN G. OLDHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

MOWING-IMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,856, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed November 28, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that l, FRANK M. WATERS, of Springfield, Clark county, Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement infMowing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of sickle-driving mechanism of mowing and other harvesting machines in which a vibrating arm is employed in the train of apparatus which transmits motion from the ground-wheel to the sickle. The movement of such vibrating arm has been heretofore accomplished either. by means of differential bevel-gearing or by variously-arranged cams with serpentine or zigzag grooves. These mechanical expedients are subject to serious defects in operation. The bevel-gearing is found to be objectionable from the fact that the applied power tends to produce a constant violent stress on the vibrating arm in a plane at right angles to that of its proper motion, which necessitates a very strong yoke or confining-guide and generatesresistance in the form of friction,which more than doubles the labor of the team over that legitimately expended in driving the sickle. On the other hand, the great frictional resistance, rapid wear, and constant tendency to slack motion of the Various forms of grooved cams in like manner render their use undesirable in this Devices customarily employed are furthermore defective in action by reason same, one wheel being omitted. Fig. 3 is a rear view of my segment-gear and associated members. Fig. 4 is rear view of the forked guide for my vibrating arm.

The following parts may be of customary or of any suitable construction, namely: Frame r A, axle B, ground-wheels O 0, shoe D, drag bar E,brace F, finger-bar G, sickle H, and pitman I.

The ground-wheel G on the sickle side drives the gearing, and has any customary or suitable olutoh-connectiomJ, with a spur-wheel, K, that gears with a pinion, L, on the countershaft M, a spur-wheel, N, on which gears with a pinion, O, that revolves freely upon the axle B, and has (either cast integral with or rigidly attached to it) afly-wheel, P, and an eccentric, Q, the latter being of the represented frustum form.

Fastened to the axle by means of screw B, so as to be easily set up as the parts wear, is a spherical knob, S. The knob S and the eccentric Q constitute, respectively, the fixed and the gyratory bearings of a vibrating arm of the following construction:

'1 is a trumpet-formed hub, of which one end, 15, is a hollow spherical segment that embraces the spherical portion of the knob S, and of which the other end, i, has the represented flaring form to embrace the frustumformed eccentric Q.

Extending laterally from the hub T is an arm, U, which terminates in a ball, V, to which one extremity of the pitmanI is coupled. The arm U consists, preferably, of two rods, u at, whose inner ends are bolted to widelyseparated projections 25 t on the hub side, and whose outer extremities are bolted within a clamp, 10'. A protuberance upon one of these rods forms the ball V, already spoken of.

The sweep of the operative extremity V of the vibrating arm U is restricted to the proper path by means of a fork, W,which, embracing the rod u of the arm, is attached to the main frame by its screw-threaded shank w and nuts w w". The operator, by manipulating the nuts 10 20', can elevate or depress the guide W, and by so doing regulate the height above the ground of the Vibrating arm U. Furthermore, by slackening one of the said nuts the fork may be sufficiently loosened in its bearings to permit it to be turned aside to the position represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to liberate the vibrating arm and permit the cutting mechanism to be folded compactly over the main frame in suitable position for transportation or stowage.

The rear portion of the drag-bar E passes through an upwardprojection, d, of the shoe, and affords a pivot-bearing for a segment-gear, X,which meshes at its periphery in a rack, h, on the sickle-heel, and is at its upper part coupled by a pin, 6, with the pitman I, which is thus held well clear of the ground, and at the same time maintained in a position substantially parallel with that of the sickle in its ordinary working position. This arrangement, moreover, permits the sickle to be worked at various degrees of elevation without liability of collision of the pitman-coupling with the ground on the back stroke, such as frequently occurs with mowing-machines under like circumstances.

An ear, (1, which extends upward from the shoe, has bolted to it one end of a rod, Y, (which may be constructed from gas-pipe.) This rod, curving upward, forward, and outward to a somewhat greater height than and somewhat on the sickle side of the drivewheel, is by a continuation of the same curve brought into alignment with the drag-bar E, where it terminates in an eye, 3 by which it is secured to the forward end, 6, of said bar, or is otherwise so pivoted on such line as to enable it to serve as a handle by which the driver can elevate the cutter to avoid obstructions, or to which he can cling as a safety guard should he be thrown from his seat. The

toothed segment referred to is preferably secured on the rear portion of the drag-bar by means of a collar. and set-screw on each side, as shown, so that it can be shifted or disengaged at any moment for unshipping of the sickle or other purpose. The tendency of my toothed segment to keep the sickle well down upon the shoe supersedes the necessity of a heel-plate.

I claim as new and of my invention 1. In a mowing or other harvesting machine, the combination of the oscillating frame T UV and the spherical knob S, having the adjustable attachment R on the axle or frame, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a mowing or other harvesting machine, the combination of the eccentric Q, adjustable ball-coupling R S, oscillating frame T U V, and the adjustable guide-fork W, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a mowing or other harvesting machine, in combination with the cutting apparatus, the guard or handle Y, rigidly attached at its rear end to the shoe, curving thence upward, outward, and downward, and pivoted at its forward end to a fixed point in alignment with the drag-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

FRANK M. VATERS.

Attest:

MILTON COLE, P. B. MARTIN. 

